Face mask

ABSTRACT

Illustrated views of an exemplary face mask device for use to prevent the spread of viruses is presented. The face mask device is useful for providing a comfortable, tight fit. The face mask device provides coverage of a face of a user over a nose, a mouth and wrapping around a chin of the user. The face mask device is washable and reusable. The face mask device is cost efficient and provides easy replacement of one or more straps that keep the face mask device in a predetermined position on the face of the user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to face masks. More particularly, it relates toefficient and cost-effective face masks.

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have been employed as a publicand personal health control measure against the spread of SARS-CoV-2.Their use is intended as personal protection to prevent infection and assource control to limit transmission of the virus in a community orhealthcare setting. The use of masks has received varyingrecommendations from different public health agencies and governments.The World Health Organization and other public health organizationsagree that masks can limit the spread of respiratory viral diseases suchas COVID-19. However, the topic has been a subject of debate, with somepublic health agencies and governments initially disagreeing on aprotocol for wearing face masks.

As of early May 2020, 88% of the world's population lives in countriesthat recommend or mandate the use of masks in public; more than 75countries have mandated the use of masks. Debates have emerged regardingwhether masks should be worn even when social distancing at 2 meters (6feet), and whether they should be worn during exercise. Additionally,public health agencies of some countries and territories have changedtheir recommendations regarding face masks over time. Face masks havebeen a subject of shortages, and not all have been certified. Moreover,substandard masks were reported on the market with significantly reducedperformance.

There are different types of face masks including: cloth face masks,loose-fitting medical or surgical masks, face-sealing filteringfacepiece masks, including uncertified dust masks as well as certifiedrespirator masks (with respirator certifications such as N95 masks, N99masks, and FFP masks), and other respirators, including elastomericrespirators, some of which are also N95/FFP/N99 etc.

Other protective face masks including transparent face shields, medicalgoggles and other types of personal protective equipment are sometimesused together with face masks.

Current face masks provide a service for the public but haveshortcomings. The current face masks often times do not fit, are tooloose and fall off. Further, the current ear loops, securing the facemask to a person, are uncomfortable and not adjustable. Also, thecurrent face masks are not customizable and made of a latex material,which many people are allergic to and are found to be hard to breathethrough when wearing.

Accordingly, and in light of the foregoing, there is a need for a facemask that is cost efficient, adjustable, comfortable, customizable andis not made of a material that many people are allergic to.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are illustrated views of an exemplary face maskdevice.

FIG. 1C is an illustrated view of a strap holder of the exemplary facemask device shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2A is an illustrated view of a use of the exemplary face mask shownin FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is an illustrated view of a use of the exemplary face mask shownin FIG. 1B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in various embodiments,” “in someembodiments,” and the like are used repeatedly. Such phrases do notnecessarily refer to the same embodiment. The terms “comprising,”“having,” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictatesotherwise. Such terms do not generally signify a closed list.

“Above,” “adhesive,” “affixing,” “any,” “around,” “both,” “bottom,”“by,” “comprising,” “consistent,” “customized,” “enclosing,” “friction,”“in,” “labeled,” “lower,” “magnetic,” “marked,” “new,” “nominal,” “not,”“of,” “other,” “outside,” “outwardly,” “particular,” “permanently,”“preventing,” “raised,” “respectively,” “reversibly,” “round,” “square,”“substantial,” “supporting,” “surrounded,” “surrounding,” “threaded,”“to,” “top,” “using,” “wherein,” “with,” or other such descriptorsherein are used in their normal yes-or-no sense, not as terms of degree,unless context dictates otherwise.

Reference is now made in detail to the description of the embodiments asillustrated in the drawings. While embodiments are described inconnection with the drawings and related descriptions, there is nointent to limit the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein. On thecontrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications andequivalents. In alternate embodiments, additional devices, orcombinations of illustrated devices, may be added to, or combined,without limiting the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are illustratedviews of an exemplary face mask device 100 for use to prevent the spreadof viruses is presented. The face mask device 100 is useful forproviding a comfortable, tight fit. The face mask device 100 providescoverage of a face of a user over a nose, a mouth and wrapping around achin of the user. The face mask device 100 is washable and reusable. Theface mask device 100 is cost efficient and provides easy replacement ofone or more straps that keep the face mask device 100 in a predeterminedposition on the face of the user.

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C are substantially the same as they sharecommon features and are presented together. Where FIG. 1A and FIG. 1Bdiffer, the difference is highlighted to each of the specific FIG. 1Aand FIG. 1B.

The face mask device 100 has a mask 110 and one or more straps 150, 151.The mask 110 has a top 111, a bottom 112, a first end 113, a second end114, a front 115 and a back 116. The top 111 of the mask 110 ispreferably a pointed shape, thereby covering over the nostrils of a userand thereby fitting onto substantially near a bridge of the user's nose.The mask 110 is preferably made of a cloth material, however othermaterials are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, paper,nylon, plastic, a tight-knitted mesh, etc. The face mask device 100 ispreferably washable and reusable. The face mask device 100 isreversible.

The bottom 112 of the mask 110 is preferably an extended half circleshape, thereby fitting under the user's chin and providing additionalsecurity that the face mask device 110 covers any and all entry/exitpoints of the user when in a location with other people.

Each of the first end 113 and the second end 114 has a plurality ofcoupling devices 117. The coupling devices 117 are preferably snapcouplers, however other types of coupling devices are herebycontemplated, including, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners,such as Velcro® fasteners, buttons, clips, etc. The coupling devices 117are configured to couple to a receiving end, see FIG. 1C, to securelyhold one of the one or more straps 150.

The second end 114 has a plurality of coupling devices 117. The couplingdevices 117 are preferably snap couplers, however other types ofcoupling devices are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to,hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro® fasteners, buttons, clips, etc.The coupling devices 117 are configured to couple to a receiving end118, see FIG. 1C, to securely hold one of the one or more straps 150.

In FIG. 1C, each of the coupling devices 117 has a receiving end 118 anda connecting end 119. The connecting end 119 is configured substantiallynear the first end 113 or second end 114 of the mask 110 as one or moreof the coupling devices 117 are configured for each of the first end 113and the second end 114 of the mask 110.

FIG. 1A presents a face mask device 100 wherein one (1) strap 150 isutilized and coupled to the second end 114 of the mask 110. After themask 110 has been placed over the nose, the mouth and the chin of theuser, the strap 150 is placed around a head of the user and coupled tothe second end 114 utilizing the coupling devices 117.

In FIG. 1B, presents a face mask device 100 wherein two straps 150, 151are utilized and coupled to the first end 113 of the mask 110 and asecond strap 151 is coupled to the second end 114 of the mask 110. Oneof the two straps 150, 151 is coupled to a first ear and another of thestraps 150, 151 is coupled to a second ear.

When to be in storage or the user has inserted one of the one or morestraps 150, the user couples the connecting end 119 of the couplingdevice 117 to the receiving end 118 of the coupling device, therebysecuring one of the one or more straps 150 to the mask 110.

The straps 150, 151 are preferably made of an elastic material, such asa rubber band, however other types of materials are hereby contemplated,including, but not limited to, string, elastic straps, etc. The elasticmaterial is preferably not made of a latex material. The straps 150, 151are replaceable and interchangeable.

Moving now to FIG. 2A, an illustrated view of a use of the exemplaryface mask device 100 shown in FIG. 1A is presented. The exemplary facemask device 100 is configured having one (1) strap 150.

The user 500 has a face 501 and two (2) ears 502, only one of which isviewable however the second ear is identical to the description thatfollows.

The user 500 wishes to use the face mask device 100 to fulfill therequirements of the CDC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The user 500 has elected to use a one (1) strap 150 version. The user500 configures the mask 100 to have the strap 150 by placing the strap150 onto the second end 114 of the mask 110 and utilizing the couplingdevices 117. The face mask device 100 is the placed over the face 501 ofthe user 500 and the strap 150 is brought around a back 503 of the head501 and coupled utilizing the coupling devices 117 (not shown) of thefirst end 113 (not shown) of the mask 110.

In FIG. 2B, an illustrated view of a use of the exemplary face maskshown in FIG. 1B is presented.

The user 500 has a face 501 and two (2) ears 502, only one of which isviewable however the second ear is identical to the description thatfollows.

The user 500 wishes to use the face mask device 100 to fulfill therequirements of the CDC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The user 500 has elected to use a two (2) strap 150, 151 version. Theuser 500 configures the mask 100 to have one of the straps 150 byplacing the strap 150 onto the second end 114 of the mask 110 andutilizing the coupling devices 117. The user 500 then adds another ofthe straps 150 onto the first end 113 of the mask 110 utilizing thecoupling devices 117 (not shown). The face mask device 100 is the placedover the face 501 of the user 500 and each of the straps 150, 151 iscoupled to one of the ears 502 of the user 500.

In the numbered clauses below, specific combinations of aspects andembodiments are articulated in a shorthand form such that (1) accordingto respective embodiments, for each instance in which a “component” orother such identifiers appear to be introduced (with “a” or “an,” e.g.)more than once in a given chain of clauses, such designations may eitheridentify the same entity or distinct entities; and (2) what might becalled “dependent” clauses below may or may not incorporate, inrespective embodiments, the features of “independent” clauses to whichthey refer or other features described above.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing specificexemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied toother embodiments or combined with or interchanged with the features ofother embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spiritof the invention being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A face mask device for protecting a user fromcontagious viruses, the device comprising: a mask, the mask having afirst end, a second end, a front, a back, a top and a bottom; aplurality of coupling devices, wherein each of the coupling devices havea receiving end and a connecting end, at least one of the connectingends being coupled substantially near the first end of the mask, atleast one of the receiving ends being configured between the first endof the mask and the front of the mask, at least one of the connectingends being configured to substantially near the second end, and at leastone of the receiving ends being configured between the front of the maskand the second end of the mask, at least one of the receiving ends beingconfigured between the second end of the mask and the front of the mask;and one or more straps, the straps being coupled to one of the couplingdevices of the second end of the mask and the strap being coupled to thecoupling devices of the first end of the mask.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein the mask being made of a breathable material.
 3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein each of the straps being made of an elastic material.4. The device of claim 3, wherein the elastic material being a rubberband.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling devices being asnap coupler.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling devicesbeing a hook and loop fastener.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein thedevice being reversible.